CHAPTER 53
"How do you folk see out here?" Oghren grumbled. He was stumbling blindly through the snow, and he pulled his flask from his pocket and took a drink.
"Don't you have a cloak, Oghren?" Alistair asked.
"What for?" Oghren said.
"To keep you warm? It's cold," Alistair said. Everyone else was pulling cloaks around themselves, including Morrigan, who had finally obtained one after the difficulties in Haven.
"Never needed one. Orzammar's full of lava," Oghren grumbled.
"Oghren...you don't have a weapon, do you?" Lyra said, inspecting him more closely.
"Nope. Not allowed to carry one." Oghren sniffed and scratched.
Lyra sighed. "You can't travel with us and not have a weapon. Let's go see Bodahn...Alistair, you can have Sandal look at your new sword while we're getting Oghren set up."
It took a few hours to get going again. They found Oghren a sturdy battle axe, a cloak that only needed to be cut down a little, and set him up with a bed roll and shoulder pack. Oghren spent the time questioning Wynne about things like what snow was, and how high the "sky ceiling" rose, and they had an enlightening discussion on weather and seasons.
"You mean ta tell me...this stuff's called snow, and it's cold, and it falls during something called 'winter'. But...this is 'summer'...and as we go south, the snow'll disappear?"
"Yes, Oghren," Wynne said. Oghren snorted.
"Daft. Asschabs, this whole surface thing is daft." He looked down at his feet, and then up at the sky. "What happens if I jump?"
"What do you mean?" Wynne said.
"If I jump. Do I go flyin' off? Is it quick, or could someone grab me? I almost wanna try it."
"Please, try it," Zevran said, his eyes glittering. "Alistair will catch you."
"What?" Alistair said, walking back over. "I didn't hear you. What'll I do? Don't commit me without me knowing what it is I'm 'sposed to do."
"Shhh," Zevran said. Oghren wore a look of extreme concentration. He squinched his eyes shut, and then gave a mighty yell and jumped. Kestrel cocked his head at the dwarf and whined.
His feet might have gone three inches off the ground before he came slamming back to earth. His eyes popped open, and Zevran began to snicker.
"I'm still on the ground," Oghren said, puzzled. "That's disappointin'. Always kinda wanted to fly." He took another sip from his flask. "Must be too heavy. Built right solid, I am. Even up here, still got my stone connection. Damn fruity elves," he muttered. Zevran grinned happily.
"What was that?" Lyra asked as she walked up, puzzled. She bore the results of her last purchases...more jerky, and dried fruit and nuts. She parceled them out to everyone, and they tucked them into their packs.
"Oghren nearly fell into the sky, but Alistair saved him," Zevran said with a twinkle in his eye.
"Oh. Now I understand perfectly," Lyra said sarcastically. She looked at Alistair, who shrugged.
"Don't ask me. I just got here," he said.
Bodahn told them he intended to remain in Orzammar for the duration of the Blight.
"They're not letting people in, Bodahn," Lyra said worriedly. 'King Endrin's closed the city against more refugees..."
"Even so, Sandal and I'll stay here. The Blight can't last forever...not with you and Alistair bringing it to an end!" Bodahn said cheerfully.
Lyra remembered Zerlinda, and told Bodahn about the dwarf girl and her baby, and the possibility that she might come to the surface. Bodahn promised to find a place for her, if she should need one.
"Don't worry about us, my dear...this is still one of the safest spots in all of Ferelden. Take care of yourself...Maker's blessing, Lyra," he said, and squeezed her hand. Lyra smiled at the friendly merchant, almost sorry to leave him.
"Stone's blessing, Bodahn," she said, and gave Sandal a hug.
"Enchantment!" Sandal said happily, and she chuckled.
They made only a few miles before it got dark. Alistair and Lyra carried their rolls of dragon skin wedged behind their packs, and with the addition of Oghren, they had a bit more cooking equipment than they'd had previously, but even with eight people carrying supplies it was a meager camp they constructed.
"I miss Bodahn's wagon already...and I really miss our tents," Alistair grumbled as he and Lyra settled down into their shared bedroll. Lyra had been hesitant about openly sharing their sleeping rolls without even the protection of cloth walls, but Alistair had pointed out that if all they were doing was sleeping, there was no reason not to share body warmth.
"Everyone knows, anyway..." he whispered. "Not that it won't drive me slightly crazy to have you so close and not be able to do anything about it..." he murmured into her ear, and kissed her neck gently.
"Shhh..." she whispered. "Behave yourself."
The best part of their large group was the rotation of the watch...it was possible to get two full nights of sleep before your turn came up for guard duty, and everyone was well rested. The next morning, they came down out of the steepest parts of the mountain, and the ground began to level off, melting the snow as the sun gained strength.
Oghren was impaired by his shorter legs, although he could run all day, or so he claimed. Wynne couldn't run, and so they were necessarily slowed to her pace. They stayed on the paths as much as possible, to speed their travels, but it was slow going.
In the afternoon of the first full day out of Orzammar, they left the mountain completely, and made their way along the coast of Lake Calenhad. They fished for crabs with sticks they found and lengths of slender rope, using jerky for bait. Oghren fell into the lake, much to Zevran's amusement. Sten turned out to be the best crabber of all of them. He had a natural patience that served him well. They had a grand feast that night, steaming the crabs in their shells over the fire, although Leliana wished for butter and lemon, reminiscing about dinner parties in Orlais.
After dinner, Lyra and Leliana decided to wash their hair using buckets of water dipped up from the lake, and Alistair was watching from a rocky outcropping near the shore. The girls splashed and laughed, and Morrigan crept up beside him, unseen by the others.
"You put something in my pack, templar," she said softly, her voice sultry in the darkness.
"Oh. Um, what?" Alistair said, glad she couldn't see his face.
Morrigan laughed. "Do not think to fool me. I can smell your scent on the cloth."
He turned to look at her. "Now that's just creepy. How can you smell me?"
"I have talents beyond those of a normal woman, Alistair..." Morrigan said. She leaned closer to his ear.
"Why?" she whispered.
"Why what?" he said uncomfortably, his voice betraying his confusion.
"Why give me such a gift?" Morrigan's voice was curious, but not unpleasant. She leaned back and inspected him.
"Oh. Uh...well...I saw it, and it reminded me of the story you told. About your childhood. I...just thought you might like it." He turned to look at her. "Do you?"
"Your feelings are for your fellow Warden," Morrigan said, her voice stern.
"Of course," Alistair said hastily. "Not even a question. But... can't a friend give another friend a gift? Or...was it wrong of me to do that?"
Morrigan considered this for a moment, then laughed, a forced, harsh sound.
"Look at us," Morrigan said disgustedly. "Neither one of us know the protocols for relationships...how very sad."
They sat in silence for a momet, and then Morrigan leaned close.
" 'Tis most beautiful. I thank you for such a fine gift..." she whispered, and kissed his cheek. Just a mere brushing of her lips against his skin, the briefest of touches, and then she turned into a wolf and ran away.
Alistair's eyes bugged out of his head. Holy Maker! Did I just see...Morrigan...turn into a wolf? ...I did. Is that how she can smell...? I'm going quietly mad.
"Alistair, bring me my towel, would you?" Lyra's voice called, and he stood up, grabbed the piece of leather and walked toward her, his mind racing over what he'd just seen. The remembered feel of Morrigan's lips burned his skin, and he scrubbed his cheek with his hand angrily, banishing the sensory memory. Damn the witch!
He handed the towel to Lyra, who wrapped it around her head as it hung upside down over the lake. She stood up, rubbing her hair vigorously, and then pulled the towel down around her shoulders. Her hair was everywhere, wet and scraggly, and Alistair's heart melted to see her looking so adorably bedraggled. On a whim, he pulled her into an embrace and kissed her deeply, dipping her down and supporting her around her waist, one hand on her upper back. Leliana began to laugh, and Lyra wrapped her arms around his neck and returned the kiss, smiling against his lips, thrilling at this unexpected display.
"Stay with me forever..." Alistair breathed, his heart beating with guilt.
"Forever and always," she whispered back, and their lips joined again, and his hands tightened on her skin.
Alistair made a pact within himself. No more gifts, no more friendship. Too much was at stake.
No more Morrigan.
They traveled for two more days, and Morrigan kept her distance, much to Alistair's relief. Alistair estimated that they would be arriving in Redcliffe that afternoon, and he was looking forward to a room in Arl Eamon's castle...alone at last, with Lyra.
"Ugh. Got something in my...Sod it." Oghren began picking at his armor in a very particular way.
"What are you..." Wynne said, and then she shut her eyes and turned her head away slightly. "Never mind, I don't want to know.
"That's right," Oghren said, a sneer in his voice. "Keep yer nose up. You know, just 'cuz we don't all live in some tower in the clouds doesn't mean we're worthless." He finished his business, and spat mightily into the trees.
"I didn't mean..." Wynne began, but Oghren cut her off, jabbing a finger at her.
"And furthermore, I don't think I appreciate the way ya looked at me the other night." He wiped his nose, and took a sip from his ever-present flask.
"The way I...what?" Wynne said. She looked truly, truly confused, and maybe a little bit scared.
"Oh, don't deny it. You remember. Those longin' eyes...hungry for a bit of a...tussle..." Oghren said suggestively, his graveled voice dropping down into what he must have imagined was a sexy tone. Leliana looked at Lyra, her eyes dancing. When Oghren wasn't speaking to you...it was terribly funny.
"I never looked at you, dwarf. Definitely not in that way," Wynne said, her voice shocked.
Oghren creased his brows, and then nodded. "Oh...I think yer right. Huh, must've been the dog." Kestrel growled, and Lyra giggled quietly, scratching his ears.
Oghren picked at his armor again, and muttered "Sod it. I would have thought saving the surface would have involved less...walking."
"Little legs getting tired?" Zevran said, a teasing tone in his voice.
"No. I can go all day. All night, too," Oghren said, and laughed lecherously. "But...I thought these people had animals. Horses 'n such."
"In Orlais, they do," Leliana piped up. "Here, only the nobility have horses, and even then it's not the rule. More like the exception."
"If you like, I could hoist you up on my back," Zevran said generously.
"Hey now, don't start with the-" Oghren said, offended.
"Yes! Climb up, and I'll cart you around like a child! Marvelous fun!" Zevran said, his tone wheedling.
"You knife-eared pipe-cleaner! You couldn't carry me on yer best day," Oghren said, but his tone was worried.
"Hmmm... Perhaps if you left behind the spirits, the battle axe, and lost two feet of beard..." Zevran mused.
"Forgit it. Jus' keep walking," Oghren growled, and Zevran chuckled.
"Come, Oghren...have a little fun," Zevran said teasingly.
"Not inta yer kinda fun, elf," Oghren grunted.
"Look," Alistair said. "Redcliffe Village. What's going on down there?"
They crested the hill, and looked down on the town. A festival of some kind was being prepared, and delicious smells drifted on the wind to reach their tired noses.
"Is it..." Lyra said, and then her eyes widened. "It is! Wynne, is it Summerday?"
"Oh my goodness," Wynne said. "I believe it is."
"What's Summerday?" Oghren asked.
"Festival for the ending of winter and the coming of summer," Alistair said, his eyes lit up with excitement. "There's food, dancing, and they bless the fields for fertility. Sometimes there's marriages, as well."
"Sounds like a right good party," Oghren said. "They got ale?"
"Sure," Alistair said. "Ale, wine, mead-"
"Well what'r we waitin' for? Redcliffe is callin'!" Oghren said, and began to jog down the mountain.
"He's been drunk the entire time. Do we even have that much alcohol with us?" Lyra murmured. Alistair shrugged.
"I dunno. Why can't I be drunk all the time?" Alistair said.
"Do you really need an answer to that?" Lyra said, amused.
They came down the path into Redcliffe, and the villagers greeted them enthusiastically. Everyone spread out, looking around, talking with acquaintances and friends made on the journey from Lothering.
"It's the Wardens!" Several women rushed to Alistair and hugged him as if he were related to them, fussing and exclaiming. Some younger ones just embraced him closely, their eyes shining, their laughs breathy and welcoming, much to Lyra's displeasure. He extricated himself awkwardly, smiling, but obviously wanting to get away.
"Will you come to the celebration tonight?" a girl with red braids asked, smiling prettily.
"Yes, will you?" a slender blonde asked. "I'm bringing mince pie, and Cora is bringing honeyed bread. There's a traveling troupe of musicians, and there'll be dancing-"
"Um, yes, I'll be there," Alistair said. "And Lyra will too, right?" He took her hand gently, and she squeezed it, smiling gratefully at him.
"Yes, I'll be there as well," she said, her voice gentle. The girls' faces fell slightly.
"Ladies, the name's Oghren. Can't wait to try the pie," Oghren said, grinning up at them. "Don't crowd, there's plenty of ol' Oghren to go around."
"Oh...um, we should get back to helping," the blonde said. She nudged her friend, who was staring at Oghren's beard in fascination. They moved off, the redhead glancing back over her shoulder from time to time. Alistair chuckled.
"Oghren, you're a lady killer," he said, and Oghren laughed.
"Once you go Oghren, you don't go back, my friend." He eyed Lyra and Alistair's hands and the way they were clasped together.
"So. You and the boss, eh?"
"Pardon?" Alistair asked.
"You and the boss. Rollin' yer oats."
"I don't know-"
"Polishin' the footstones."
"Oghren," Lyra said. "We're-"
"Tappin' the midnight still, if ya will." Oghren grinned, and began to chuckle to himself. "Knew I did a good thing, bringin' the two o' you together."
"What are you going on about?" Alistair said irritably.
"Forgin' the moaning statue. Buckin' the forbidden horse. Donnin' the velvet hat."
"Are you just making these up, right now?" Alistair said. His face was slightly pink, but he looked amused. Lyra had to admit, it was pretty funny, although her cheeks felt hot as well.
"Nope," Oghren said, and belched. "Been savin' em."
A/N: This chapter was threatening to become way, way too long, so I cut it off halfway through and will probably publish the remainder of this chapter later on today as a new chapter. Does that make sense? Sure, sure it does. I've come to appreciate stopping points...sometimes it's just tough to read a really long chapter all at once, even if it means the current storyline isn't all in one chunk. At least I update fast, right? ;-)
Thanks to WellspringCD for making me realize just what a culture shock the dwarves would go through when they see the surface world. Oghren is actually handling it well...I think it must be the alcohol.
Kisses to all my awesome reviewers, and to those who have recently joined us! The Original Frizzi, Dreamhare, DinchtBaby, Pharin of the Dunedain, KnightOfHolyLight, Angelakane, FenZev, MagicalMimi and Berserkians Fury...you make my little heart sing. Thanks for taking the time to drop me a line. :-D
